As Mac users, it’s easy to turn our noses up at running Windows, but the truth is that it sometimes can’t be avoided. Be it for work or for playing video games, running Microsoft’s operating system on Apple hardware isn’t nearly as hard as it seems like it would be.
Virtual Machines. We recommend using a virtual machine program, ideally Parallels or VMWare Fusion, to run Windows applications on a Mac without rebooting.For maximum performance, which is particularly necessary for gaming, we recommend dual-booting Windows with Boot Camp instead. A virtual machine is one of the best ways to run Windows desktop software.
Jun 07, 2019 Running macOS without the Mac. MacOS should now be installed in VirtualBox. Any time you want to use it, simply launch VirtualBox, and start your virtual machine. When you’re done, you can either close VirtualBox or shut down through your macOS virtual machine. Mar 05, 2020 In Windows Operating System, users use lots of third-party tools that play virtual Operating System on their devices, but the official tool that you can use is Hyper- V this is the best virtual machine for windows 10. And with the help of this tool, you can host various OS virtually right on your OS.
Our expert buying guide - updated to include the new Parallels Desktop 15 - rounds up the best virtualisation and virtual machine software packages to help you run Windows.
Step 4: Tap on Next and you will see Mac OS X 10.7 Virtual Machine Created that will be running Mac OS on Windows via Virtual Technology. Now we need to configure the Hardware in order to run Mac OS X smoothly on PC. So to do it, tap on Edit Virtual Machine Settings that will appear inside Mac OS X 10.7 tab –.
There are two main ways to go about this: virtualization and Boot Camp. The former involves running a macOS application that allows you to run Windows within, while the latter equips you to reboot your Mac fully into Windows.
There are several factors involved in picking the correct path, including price, ease of use, and flexibility. It’s also important to consider what sorts of tasks you need to achieve with your Windows installation, as that may make the right decision more clear.
If you need access to a couple of Windows apps while you’re running macOS, it’s best to virtualize. Running Windows in a virtual machine (dubbed a “VM”) also allows you to store it all on something like an external SSD, as Boot Camp requires a chunk of your boot drive.
For that trade, Boot Camp offers direct, native access to your Mac’s hardware. If you want to game in Windows on your Mac, it’s the way to go.
Bonus! One more thing…
The Complete Guide to Managing Tasks in Things (Video)
If you struggle to keep up with all your tasks, we can show you some organization tips that may help you.
We put together a video that shows you everything you need to know about a task in Things:
The difference between start dates and due dates and how to use them effectively.
How to set up reminders so you never forget an important task again.
How to use checklists for tasks that require more than one step.
How to configure daily, weekly, monthly, or even annual repeating tasks.
And more…
You don’t have to use any of these things in your tasks if you don’t want to. But knowing what they are and how they all work will help you be more organized, save time, and ensure you are using Things in the way that suits you best.
This video is something we have made available for free to our email subscriber community. You can get it right now. By joining the Sweet Setup community you’ll also get access to other guides, early previews to big new reviews and workflow articles we are working on, weekly roundups of our best content, and more.
Virtualization Apps
There are three virtualization apps worth considering.
Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion are very similar options. Neither are free, but they come with great customer support if you need help:
Parallels runs anywhere from $79.99/yr to $99.99/yr, depending on your needs. That subscription means your software is always up to date, ready for new versions of both macOS and Windows.
Fusion follows a more traditional model. The current version is $79.99 for a new license, while an upgrade license will set you back just $49.99.
The third option is VirtualBox, an open-source (and free) option. While there is a vibrant online community around this application, if you are virtualizing Windows for work, I think it’s more than worth the price of admission to pick up Parallels or Fusion.
Parallels
Parallels Desktop is the best way to run Windows on your Mac. It offers lots of flexibility when it comes to which operating systems it can run and it offers a customizable experience to make it your own.
Set-up & Settings
Installing Windows 10 from an .iso downloaded directly from Microsoft’s store took just a few minutes. While most people will probably be installing Windows, Parallels can host all sorts of operating systems:
You can install Windows from an ISO, as I did, or even download a trial of Windows from Microsoft within the application. Additionally, Parallels can download a bunch of Linux distros and even download Modern.IE virtual machines, which are helpful when you need to test websites in old versions of Internet Explorer.
Parallels can transfer information from an existing PC, including that computer’s operating system. You can boot your Boot Camp partition as if it were a VM.
For my purposes, I installed the 64-bit version of Windows 10. After installation, I was prompted to create a Parallels account. This ties the app to Parallels’ website, keeping your license keys and subscriptions updated. After logging in, I was greeted with my Windows 10 VM:
There are a whole bunch of settings that can be tweaked. Things like how much RAM is allocated to the VM and what sort of network access it has can be adjusted. You can grant access to hardware like your Mac’s SD card slot, USB ports, and more as needed.
Parallels comes with a bunch of creature comforts too, though.
It can automatically share the contents of your Mac with the VM and vice versa. This means if you create a text file and save it to your Desktop, it will appear on the desktop of your macOS virtual machine:
It can open Mail.app on your Mac if you click an email link within the VM itself, and even automatically pause the VM when you aren’t using it, giving macOS more resources when possible. Parallels can even sync your clipboard across your Mac and its VMs and add your printer to your VM’s operating system automatically.
For those of us with macOS shortcuts engrained into our hands and brains, Parallels can pass those to your VM so you don’t have to hit Ctrl + C to copy when you are used to Cmd + C.
If you want your VM to be completely isolated from its host Mac, you can enable that, too.
Coherence Mode
The integration between host is even visual with Parallels. Running Windows apps can appear in your macOS dock, for example:
By default, Parallels VMs are in their own windows, but in Coherence mode, the lines are blurred. Here’s Finder and File Explorer, side by side, for example:
There’s no Windows background anymore. My Windows apps still look like Windows, but they operate like macOS apps. They appear in the Dock and even the Cmd + Tab switcher. Task bar items are even added to the Mac’s menu bar:
The clever features don’t end there. The Windows start menu can be opened via the VM’s Dock icon or the Parallels menu bar item when in Coherence mode.
In this mode, Parallels truly blends the VM into the macOS experience. If you need access to a single Windows app and don’t want the visual clutter of actually seeing Windows, this mode is for you.
Personally, I like to think about VMs as being contained islands. I don’t mind some limited sharing, but I want there to be a clear separation.
Performance & Utility
It’s hard to measure the speed of virtual machines. Your mileage will vary based on what computer you have, how much RAM it is equipped with, and more.
In measurable aspects, like VM boot time, Parallels was faster than VMware Fusion across the board on my iMac Pro.
Parallels comes with a bunch of virtual machine management tools. You can create snapshots of your VM to restore to at a later time if a software update goes poorly.
The application comes with Parallels Toolbox, a collection of utilities. I’m not sold on the value of these tools, but they come with a subscription to Parallels.
VMware Fusion
Fusion is the big competitor to Parallels, and while it does not require an annual subscription, it lacks some of the polish of its rival. That said, comparing the two applications side by side, there is very little difference in terms of features.
For some users, it may come down to price. Some users simply don’t want an annual subscription. I understand that, but I have more faith in Parallels’ future. VMware is a huge company, owned by Dell. Fusion is just one product in their catalogue, and a few years ago, it was rumored that Fusion may not be long for this world. VMware denied the report, but I can’t shake the feeling that Parallels is a better long-term bet.
Fusion includes a feature named Unity, which is very much like Parallels’ Coherence mode. The Windows backdrop goes away, and Windows apps show up directly in the macOS interface, including the Dock and App Switcher. However, not all of the resources used are Retina quality, leading to blurry icons in places. Worse, the entire system feels slower than Parallels. Even on an iMac Pro, Unity mode will stutter and have to redraw windows instead of smoothly animating them.
Boot Camp
As virtualization — running Windows inside a macOS app — lets you use both macOS and Windows at the same time, it’s probably the best option for most people. The convenience of having your one or two must-have Windows apps right next to the data and apps on your Mac is hard to beat.
However, virtualization comes with a price: computational overhead. You’ll be sharing your Mac’s CPU, GPU, and RAM across what is effectively two computers. Most modern Macs have more than enough horsepower for this, but if you want to run Windows on your Mac for gaming, Boot Camp is your best bet.
Boot Camp is built into macOS, and supports Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, depending on the age of the host Mac. If you’re running a Mac built in 2012 or later, you should be set for Windows 10.
Be sure to visit Apple’s support pages to verify which version of Windows your machine will support via Boot Camp before you run out and buy something. There’s a lot of fine print here.
Installing Windows via Boot Camp is pretty straight forward. There’s an app in your Mac’s Utilities folder named Boot Camp Assistant. You’ll need it, as well as a disk image file (.iso) of the Windows installer. If you purchase Windows online from Microsoft, you can download an ISO directly from the company’s store.
Boot Camp Assistant will walk you through selecting how much disk space you want to allocate to Windows. This will become a new partition on your Mac’s SSD; the space will be removed from the free space you can access in macOS.
Once the partition is created, you may be prompted to insert a USB drive for Boot Camp Assistant to download the necessary Windows drivers and the OS will install.
Once everything is complete, you can select which OS you’d like to boot into via the Startup Disk preference pane in macOS or the Boot Camp system tray item in Windows.
Boot Camp gives Windows direct access to your Mac’s hardware, meaning it’s a great option for things like gaming or heavy rendering, but for most users who may need access to one or two Windows-only apps, it’s simply too much trouble to reboot between operating systems.
Bonus! One more thing…
The Complete Guide to Managing Tasks in Things (Video)
If you struggle to keep up with all your tasks, we can show you some organization tips that may help you.
We put together a video that shows you everything you need to know about a task in Things:
The difference between start dates and due dates and how to use them effectively.
How to set up reminders so you never forget an important task again.
How to use checklists for tasks that require more than one step.
How to configure daily, weekly, monthly, or even annual repeating tasks.
And more…
You don’t have to use any of these things in your tasks if you don’t want to. But knowing what they are and how they all work will help you be more organized, save time, and ensure you are using Things in the way that suits you best.
This video is something we have made available for free to our email subscriber community. You can get it right now. By joining the Sweet Setup community you’ll also get access to other guides, early previews to big new reviews and workflow articles we are working on, weekly roundups of our best content, and more.
In Closing
To wrap this up, Boot Camp is great if you need the full hardware capabilities of your Mac to be funneled into your virtual machine. If not, Parallels is an excellent choice. It’s fast, easy to use, and comes with a lot of features that make living in two operating systems easier than ever.
Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015 and this is the last version of Windows till now.
However, Windows is one of the most efficient and widely used operating systems that is incorporated with a broad range of amazing features.
However, now with advancing technology, you can even run two operating systems on one computer.
There are several ways to do that, but in this article, we will talk about how you can run macOS on Windows in a Virtual Machine (VM.)
This is a good option if you want to multitask with the creative features of macOS and efficiency of Windows.
Before we start the guide, you must be focused and read the article carefully so that you don’t miss any important point.
Because any kind of negligence will hinder your whole process.
Files Required to Create A macOS Virtual Machine On Windows 10!
Before you begin with the main process, you must install and download the important files. You would also need a macOS copy, and for this purpose, Catalina is the latest version for macOS.
This guide aims to provide you with steps and solutions to install macOS Catalina in Virtual Machine (VM) that is running on intel hardware.
This process may include the use of either VMware Player or VirtualBox.
Download macOS Catalina Virtual Image!
We have provided you with a link at the end of this section, from where you can download macOS Catalina for both VMware and VirtualBox.
When you are downloading macOS Catalina Virtual Machine image file and Google Drive touches its download limit, then right-click on the file and choose COPY to make a copy in the Google Drive of your own.
From here download the macOS Catalina virtual image file.
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Moreover, we have provided an alternative link of media fire too. You can download it from there if the problem with Google Drive continues.
Right-click on a virtual image file when the downloading is finished and extract it using the suitable tool.
For example, Right-click on Winrar and then click on Extract to macOS Catalina.
Below are the links from where you can download the respected files.
Main Link:macOS Catalina Virtual Machine Image
Alternative Link: Mediafire mirror
Note: the above-given link can stop working sometimes, you don’t need to worry if you have another link you can download it from there too.
Using VirtualBox To Create macOS Catalina Virtual Machine
You have to download the VirtualBox Extension before you begin with creating macOS Virtual Machine.
This includes fixes of all the essential applications i.e mouse and keyboard support, USB 3.0 support, and other useful VirtualBox patches.
You can download the VirtualBox extension from the link we have given below.
Download link: Virtual Box Patch.
When you open VirtualBox, click on New and type macOS. The VirtualBox will identify the OS and default for Mac OS X when you enter the name.
Concerning Virtual Machine name, you can give it a creative name.
But, you would have to type the name in a series of commands and as you head further it gets annoying to type the difficult name a number of times.
Then, you will set the capacity of RAM storage that can be used by macOS Virtual Machine (VM).
For this purpose, a minimum of 4GB is advised. But, this more you gave the better performance and efficiency you will get.
Note: Don’t be foolish by assigning more RAM then your system has. Since you need to keep the balance, so you must leave some RAM for the host computer too.
Once the RAM is assigned, it’s time to assign the HardDisk. That is a virtual image you must have downloaded already.
From the options provided, you will select “Use an existing virtual hard disk file”, then you need to put the location to the VMDK file and click on Create.
Edit Settings Of macOS Catalina Virtual Machine
Until you are done with the process, don’t think of starting your macOS Catalina VM.
Before you start the Virtual Machine, there are some changes needed to make in the settings. Go to Settings by right-clicking on macOS VM.
In System, un-check the floppy in the boot order section. Verify that the Chipset section is set to ICH9.
Now click on Processor Tab, set 2 processors. You can assign more if you have a PC with powerful specs, but it is not necessary. Moreover, Check the Enable PAE/NX box with Extended Feature.
Then you will go Display, here you will set the video memory to 128mb. Then in the Storage window, make sure that the box alongside Use Host I/O Cache is checked.
Lastly, you will go to the USB section and choose USB 3.0, then click on OK.
Add Custom Code to VirtualBox Using Command Prompt.
Be patient, because the time to start up your macOS Catalina VM still has not arrived. The current settings of VirtualBox are not compatible to work properly with your macOS VMDK.
You effectively have to patch VirtualBox until the virtual machine in macOS works.
For this purpose, a code must be entered with the Prompt command. We have given all the details at the end of this section.
Start with the VirtualBox closing. If VirtualBox or any of its associated processes is running, the commands do not function properly. Hold Windows Key+ X when done, then pick Command Prompt from the display menu.
If only the PowerShell option appears on your screen, type the command in the Start menu search bar.
After that, right-click on Best Match, and choose to Run as Administrator.
To locate Oracle Virtual Box directory, you can use the following command:
cd “C:Program FilesOracleVirtualBox”
Then, you will input the below-mentioned commands one by one. The command that you set must be similar to the name of VM. For example, if my commands name is “ether”, then the commands will be followed as:
When you are done with this process with no errors encountered, you can close the Command Prompt.
Time To Boot Your macOS Mojave Virtual Machine
VirtualBox needs to start again. To start the virtual machine, double-click on your macOS. A wide stream of text, then a grey screen, is shown.
It could take a minute or two to clear the grey screen, but do not panic. Once the screen is clear, the installation of macOS Catalina starts.
When completed, the message “Welcome” should show on the macOS. You can configure the virtual machine macOS Mojave to suit from here.
Tip: take a virtual machine screenshot when the grey screen is passed. Try going back to the Welcome Screen Setup and start the cycle again if something goes wrong along the road.
You can take one more so that you can immediately hop into the macOS program when the macOS setup is completed.
Run to Machine > Take Screenshot, type a name for your screenshot, wait for it to continue.
Use VMware Workstation Player to Create a macOS Catalina Virtual Machine
Will you choose VMware over VirtualBox? You can use VMware to build a virtual macOS Catalina machine which functions the way VirtualBox functions.
And, as with VirtualBox, patching is required before the virtual machine is running for the macOS Catalina.
Intel and AMD modules operate this portion of the guide. When editing the VMX Virtual Machine script, AMD users will use the second code snippet.
Study the guide and see just what it entails.
Patch VMware Workstation Player
The VMware Player Patch Tool is included in the “MacOS Catalina Virtual Image” list. Download the patch tool before you head further
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Then search the location where the patch tool was downloaded. Extract the archive material.
This method functions better if the files on the same drive are stored (e.g. the C: drives hold the Root folder of VMware and the directory extracted).
Confirm that the VMware is totally shut down. Now click on the win-install command script in the patcher folder and select Run as admin. The file is accessed and the patch script will be executed.
Important Note: The script is running around and you have to check for a message that will be shown as “File not Found.”
The common explanation for a “not found” file or “the system cannot locate the requested file” error is to install VMware Workstation Player and to execute the patch from a separate directory in a specific position in the default folder.
You can access VMware once the patch is completed.
Follow the Following Instruction to Create macOS Catalina Virtual Machine via VMware Workstation:
Firstly, the option Create a New Virtual Machine will be selected. after that you will click on I will install the operating system later to continue.
Now you can pick and adjust Apple Mac OSX to macOS 10.14. It is because the patch hasn’t loaded correctly that you don’t see the macOS option.
Windows 7 Virtual Machine
Next, for your Catalina virtual machine macOS, you will select a name. Pick something that is likely to remember, and then transfer the file-path to anywhere convenient, you may have to change it at once.
On the next page, choose Store virtual disk as one file, keep to the recommended maximum hard disk capacity. Fill out a wizard for virtual disk creation, but don’t just start the virtual machine now.
Edit the Settings Of macOS Mojave Virtual Machine
You need to update the hardware specs until you can start the virtual machine. Moreover, to locate the macOS VMDK, you need to tell VMware.
Pick the virtual machine from the main VMware tab, then right-click and choose Settings from your Catalina macOS. Bump virtual machine memory up to a minimum of 4 GB, like VirtualBox. If you have RAM to spare, you might assign more.
In the processor tab, change the number of available processors to 2.
Then in the Hard Disk (SATA) tab, you will eliminate the already created hard disk. The VMware will eliminate the hard disk once you click the Remove.
After that click on Add, go to Hard disk (SATA) and select the option “use an existing disk” Then, you will find and select the location of macOS VMDK.
How To Edit the macOS Catalina VMX File for AMD Hardware?
You can leave this section if you are not an AMD user. AMD users must update the VMX file before continuing, as in the above section. Since the AMD edit consists of many lines more than Intel, the details can be copied and pasted in the file.
Close VMware. Go to the macOS virtual machine location where you installed. By default the location is:
C:UsersYOURNAMEDocumentsVirtual MachinesYOUR MAC OS X FOLDER
Select Notepad (or your preferred text editor) to browse the macOS.vmx, right-click and select Open with. Scroll down to the bottom of the configurations file and include the following data:
Open VMware now, click on your macOS Mojave virtual machine to start it up.
Installing VMware Tools for The macOS Catalina Virtual Machine
Now you have to install a set of utility and extension VMware Tools that will improve video performance, mouse handling and more.
Navigate to Player, click on Manage and then Install VMware Tools with the virtual machine macOS running.
Virtual Machine Windows 10
On the macOS desktop, digavsc is installed. Select Install VMware Tools when the option shows, then allow the removable volume to enter. Ignore the directed installer that needs to be restarted upon completion.
Troubleshooting Errors or Mistakes:
While you are working on the macOS Virtual Machine installation in Vmware Player Workstation, there are a few things that can trouble you or go wrong:
You need to restart the patch phase if you can’t see “Apple Mac OS X” in the virtual machine development wizard. Ensure that all VMware Player operations are stopped.
You have a strong chance of triggering virtualization in your BiOs / UEFI setup if you get a notification “Mac OS X is not enabled with the binary translation” while beginning your virtual machine.
You will be told to go back to the configuration file macOS.vmx and ensure that you’ve added the additional line and saved the change if you get the notification “VMware Player unrecoverable error:(vcpu-0)” after running the virtual machine.
Power off the virtual machine first when the AMD hardware is working and the Apple logo is stopped. Go to Settings, click on Options and then select General now. Switch Guest to Microsoft Windows and Windows 10 x64 models for Guest operating system. Click OK and then try to re-start the virtual machine. When the Apple logo has been gone, power the virtual machine down then set Apple Mac OS X to the Guest OS option and pick the right distribution.
AMD Hardware’s macOS Virtual Machines
Intel hardware is used by Apple for powering laptops and desktops. The macOS virtual machine is easier to configure with Intel hardware, as the hardware requirements are pretty nearly the same.
The contrary is accurate of AMD. Since Apple does not develop macOS on AMD hardware, it is more difficult to create a macOS virtual machine on an AMD system.
Besides, We don’t have an AMD system in which virtual macOS can be checked, so a comprehensive overview can’t be given.
Still, we can refer to some macOS-AMD virtual machine teaching guides as long as you are patient.
The AMD OS X platform is an outstanding tool for virtual macOS machines. Many AMD macOS virtual machines platform articles can be found over the internet if you want to know more about them.
Also Read: What Is Taskeng.exe? (Virus Removal Guide)
Windows 10 Virtual Machine Settings
Wrapping It Up!
For your macOS Catalina virtual machine, you can choose from two options.
Before switching from Windows, you can try macOS and enjoy the best Apple apps on offer. Both are viable options to consider.
Having said that, we come to the end of our guide. We are hopeful that this guide helps you learn and understand how this process functions.
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